Council housing

[Honeypot257]

Hi guys I am on the homeless category. I have currently been bidding as this for nearly a year. I have bidded for two, 2 bedroom flats high rise 16th floor and am coming up as 4th for both of them. Has anyone got offered a property as position 4.
looking for a bit of hope or advice as me and my child need to move as soon as possible and can not afford to privately rent.

I am currently on the homelessness list due to my house beinf repossessed by the bank. My housing officer has said to not pay attention to the queue as people will bid who arent really suitable for the property. Have you spoken to your housing officer recently? Are they aware of the date you need to leave your current property?

Depends where you are in the country. There are areas where there's a huge shortage of council housing and realistically you can wait years.

Since you started applying a year ago, have you made any plans to help increase your earnings? Eg looked at training for better paid work or moved job?

It can be so disheartening, I've been on the list for a year and when I bid I've been going from number 50 out of 150 last year to number 140 out of 150 this year and it's just so depressing. Especially when you come across fraudsters bragging in public about their 3 bedroom house that they blagged.

Yeah I moved into a place after being 11th on the list. Don't lose hope.

Depends on your banding, you could be on band 1 however someone could then require a property on exceptional circumstances, so would supersede you for the property, this is how my LA priority banding works.

However in my LA we don’t allow children in our high/low rises so you wouldn’t meet the criteria.

Yes OP just earn more money I bet you never thought of that! 🤦‍♀️ Like everyone on a low income is on a low income because it never occurred to them to earn more, rather than systemic disempowerment.

@Noorandapples exactly how do 'fraudsters' blag themselves into council houses? Truly curious as to how they would do this.

@PuffinsRocks you're being ridiculous. You don't know the OP's, or anyone else's, circumstances and the reasons why they need social housing (and nobody has to explain themselves and their personal situation to anybody, specially to someone so prejudiced and judgemental).
Socual housing exists for a reason - those reasons are obviously too nuanced and conplicated for certain people to understand, obviously

Sincere apologies @PuffinsRocks - tagged wrong person there. Obviously meant @ContinuousProcrastination

Yes don't lose hope. I'm a housing officer for my LA. It's not been unheard of for bidders who are 20th for example to get a property. This could be as the top bidder requires adaptations that are not present, does not meet a local letting policy if in place, refuses the offer, doesn't respond to invitation to view etc. this happens more than you would think. The HA's then work their way down the list

Hi I was wondering if you would be able to help me.
I have been homeless in suffolk escaping domestic violence in north london. I have two young children and have approached east suffolk and they have placed me in emergency nightly let accommodation. I have been in there for ten weeks I have stayed out twice due to unforeseen circumstances. Today my car broke down and I rang my housing officer to let them know I couldn’t stay at the hotel and I was told I’m staying out too much. I’m not coping mentally with staying in the hotel it’s a single room with a double bunk bed in for me n my two children. I am experiencing anxiety attack ptsd and severe depression. Once you have been in emergency accommodation for 56 days there meant to put my banding up to a B. They haven’t done this my housing officer said she was still investigating and has gone as far as contacting the police officer in charge to see weather I’m telling the truth. I feel like I’m the one being punished and with them no closer to making a decision I don’t know what to do. I can’t afford to private rent and I can’t return back to london as I am scared for mine and my children’s lives. I wondered weather there was anything you could do as I have had the police officer in charge, support worker, my sons counseller, health visitor, my IDVA and various other people help me try and get something sorted with the council and they just don’t seem to be prioritising my case and I’m going to have a mental breakdown if this Carry’s on!
Please if you could help me I would appreciate it

They do have to verify cases of domestic violence in some way, women's aid can give you good advice. You should be able to be assigned a support workers. You may also need to justify why that location, remember they don't know you and probably aren't the only case they have

I had already sent my housing officer all the crime Refrence numbers and the recent non molestation order I have against my ex. I had a support worker for a week and she told me I wasn’t eligible for any help as I had been pro active and have got my children into school etc and didn’t meet the eligibility for there help. I picked this location as my immediate family live here an provided proof with all there addresses to east suffolk council. I understand that but I’ve been in this nightly let for three months almost my daughter is autistic and my son is going through counselling at the minute I just didn’t realise it was going to be this hard. I just can’t cope mentally with the hotel there’s so much noise my son cry’s most nights as he can’t sleep the rooms got mould In and I have a triple bunk bed a tv n a fridge in the room nothing else.

Yes. I was 4th. Invited for viewing, flat was given straight to me as numbers 1-3 never showed up!

hi everyone.
I just came on here for some advice..
I have been position 2 and 3 maybe 6 times now. Over the last 6 months. Each time it just pains me so much when im so close yet so far away. Number 1 always gets it. Thats fine too, but most of the time we have the same date we were awarded band A. I just get confused like we have the same date why dont i get a number 1 queue. Again this week im number 2. I feel like its unfair esp since they know the property is in such disrepair and created alot of health issues for me.
I dont really understand. If im number 2 one week, surely the next il be number 1. When i saw im number 2 again, honestly i just get so. Mentally exhausted. Like its really really depressing. I get so happy, then i get so crushed. Ive tried in vain to get support fron them but when i said. Ive waited 4 years and im beggining tk get suicidal. (I have eupd and cptsd which doesnt help) i got told. Well theirs people thats waited 5 years. So i know they could care less to help me. But has anyone been in the sane position like constantly number 2 or 3 or 4. But never number 1

I'm in Scotland and with a housing association. I was category 5 (7 being the lowest) and I was in a 1 bedroom with a toddler, DP & pregnant with no2. I wrote to our MP & local councillor. My HV wrote us a letter as support as it was affecting our mental health severely as we'd been waiting a few years on a house already. With everyone's support and me writing emails and making calls every single week we got put to the highest category which was category 1 gold plus and we got offered a new build 2 double bedroom flat.

One thing I will say if you have to be consistent. Write emails & get people involved and make noise.

I was almost making myself ill with how hard I had to fight but was worth it in the end.

Gosh, i tried without fail for 2 years sending so many letters back n forth for higher priority. Which they gave me just this year. I have no support system in place tbh. Like i dont really have anyone. I have a mental health team and they believe i am autistic, i have eupd and cptsd and depressive disorder diagnosed, but the council has absolutely failed me. I did try writing to mp. Was ignored there to. I feel so unbelievably helpless, i started self harming again out of frustration. I got diagnosed with a neck&back problem which came from depression. My musles hve weakened etc and i cant really get mental health support till i move as they want to start me of with occupationak therapy, which i cant and woudnt be able to do in this property being in disrpeair. Its just im always always top 3 in prooerties i bid for and never number 1. I am so so.. helpless with this

I really feel for you all I'm no help, I'm afraid! Just sending you a shoulder-squeeze and my very best wishes.

I'm in a (tiny) HA flat now but, when I was homeless, I went to the local authority emergency housing office. They told me that, as I don't have children, I was deemed able to survive on the street That's how low the bar is! I was awarded a place when I reached pension age.

It's shameful that you're having to live in such horrid conditions with your DC. At least you are on the lists ... please stay strong & determined, keep pestering (politely, ofc), distract yourselves when you can and GOOD LUCK!

Thankyou for ur msg. I absolutely 1000009 percent agree and respect you. Why? Bc i also dont have children. And it makes it billion times harder for people like us because we are seen as less needing help as we dont have offspring. I am 30. It is very unfortunate as realising i am unworthy of the sane help others can get. But i cant bc i dont have a children. Knowing u went through this in the same situation is really inspriring. Xxx

Good luck op. Keep trying

@savanna06 I'm a housing officer so how allocations and positions work if somebody is the same band as you with same registration date (in my LA anyway) depends if any adaptations in the property. For example if the property has a walk in shower or level access to front door this is classed as a physical adaptation so if an applicant has specified that they require this as per a disability or health reason they are viewed as a match and will go above you for this reason

I understand that. But i bid on properties with no adaptations. Because thats what im entitled to. Its a general property. But. When as its like the 6th time im top 3. I review the recent lets. And they wil have the same band date as me. Well most of them anyway. They send me the . We invite u for a viewing letters omly twice. But i have never actually been to a viewing because its just a letter with no time and date and number 1 takes the property. To be number 2 once again this week is incredibly disheartening.

I do appreciate your frustrations 100% access to social hood

Sorry I posted too soon. Absolutely get the frustrations. Access to social housing at present it at an all time high. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you that you will get something soon.

Also with us a property that has level 2 adaptations such as a walk in shower is advertised as a general needs property

Just a update.. im NUMBER 3.. again.. from num 2 to num 3. Awesome. Every single week. I dont that viewing letter as il be 3. Only top 2 get it find it very strange . My heart tells me its bc i complained about my housing officer asking to meet me for a date. When he had my whole history of being sexually exploited and groomed, They never did a investigation into his conduct but since that day i have been far from getting my own place. And then when people with SAME date as me get the property, Who knows..